Improvement in razor-straps



UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. D. DITMARS, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

IM PROVENI ENT IN RAZOR-STRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 6,653, dated February9,1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. D. DITMAns, of the city and county of Lancaster,and State of Pennsylvania, have discovered useful Material, consistingof various kinds of woods, for the Manufacture of Razor-Straps; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawing.

The nature of my discovery consists in the fact that certain hard woods,when dressed smooth and polished, possess certain necessary importantqualities for a razor-strap, to produce a very smooth and keen edge.

To enable others skilled to apply or use my discovery, I will proceed todescribe the same.

The figure in the drawing illustrates a simple form of razor-strap madeof wood.

Certain woods possess the requisite qualities or properties in a greaterdegree than othersfor instance, the hard yellow pine of Georgia,lignum-vitae, locust, &c.

Such woods alone should be used for the manufacture of razor strapswhich, when dressed smooth, will become more and more polished by thefriction of the'tool upon the face thereof. The face of the wood is tobc used withou the compositiompaste, orleather, and it should be keptfree from dust and moisture.

I have found, by practice, that a razor-strap,

as above described, will produce a much ner edge than the differentarticles ot'composition now in use.

I am aware that shoe-makers and saddlers` have long been in the habit ofwhetting their knives upon the bench; but this does not in any wayanticipate my improvement in razorstraps.

These straps may be constructed in various

